MBE Group to Lt Cmdr W.J. Uden, Royal Navy

Order of the British Empire, 5th Class, Member, First Type; 1914-15 Star (CH. GNR. W.J. UEDN, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (CH. GNR. W.J. UDEN. R.N.). Naming is officially impressed. Board mounted and extremely fine. Also included is a duotang folder with his military biography, two hand-drawn maps and six ship photographs. Footnote: Walter Jeffery Uden was born on July 8, 1868, son of John Uden of Guston, Kent and was privately educated. Pre-WWI, he achieved the ranks of Ordinary Seaman (circa 1886), Gunner, Torpedo (January 27, 1898) and Chief Gunner, Torpedo (January 27, 1913), while serving with a variety of ships: H.M.S. Camperdown (1898, Battleship), Scout (1899, Scout Class Cruiser), Forward (1905, Scout Class Cruiser), Actaeon (1908, Torpedo School Ship) and Bellerophon (1911, Battleship). During World War I, he served aboard the Battleship H.M.S. Canopus, from the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 until early 1916, including the Battle of the Falklands on December 8, 1914 and was in the Dardanelles Campaign of 1915-1916. From June 1916, he spent the remainder of the war with the Torpedo School Ship H.M.S. Actaeon, as an instructor in charge of stores. He later became Ordinance Supply Officer at the Nore. Post-WWI saw two more rank changes: Commissioned Gunner (circa 1920) and Lieutenant (March 14, 1920), serving with H.M.S. Vernon (1919, Torpedo School), Actaeon (1921, Torpedo School) and Biter (tender to H.M.S. Actaeon). Uden was awarded the Order of the British Empire, 5th Class, Member, No. M. 2572 (Military): London Gazette, June 3, 1918. The MBE was presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace on December 17, 1918 and was awarded for stores work in Actaeon. He was married to Flora Mary Uden and was living in Widley, Hampshire, England when he passed away on March 3, 1947 at the age of 78. (BGR227)